Utah's version of an artificial intelligence hub is currently in the works.

During the 2025 legislative session, lawmakers approved $36.5 million in 2025 funds, and recommended $63.5 million in 2026 funds, for the construction of “Convergence Hall,” a new state-owned complex at The Point development where the old state prison once stood, Brigham Tomco reported.

What is the vision for 'Convergence Hall'?

Lawmakers envision a state-funded hub where investors, students, professors and government agencies will be housed together to create the largest “innovation campus” in the western United States, featuring access to state resources, a world class library, conference space and over 200 dorms, Tomco writes.

Each of Utah's universities and colleges will have a dedicated space in the building — a place to target and focus their research around critical problems in the local industry.

"Hopefully this can kind of be the nucleus of efforts going on all over the state,” state Sen. Kirk Cullimore, the legislator behind Utah's approach to AI, told the Deseret News. "It can be the epicenter of what’s happening."

Utah’s price-adjusted $98k median income leads the nation

A new report found that Utah households are No. 1 in the nation for median household incomes, when adjusted for the state's cost of living.

Here are the numbers:

Why is Utah ranked so high?

One of the primary drivers behind the difference between Utah’s nominal ranking and the cost-of-living adjusted figure is that the state remains solidly affordable, even in the face of rising housing-related costs, Art Raymond reported.

“While some readily consider home prices when assessing cost of living, most Utahns (about 70%) own their homes, meaning higher home prices in recent years do not heavily weigh on the typical household’s budget and therefore do not result in a regional price parity score indicating higher than national average cost of living,” wrote Natalie Roney, Gardner research economist and author of the new report.

Read more about Utah's median income ranking.

Utah

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Utah’s reservoirs in great shape; no threat of flooding (Deseret News)

Photo gallery: Cherry blossoms surround Capitol (Deseret News)

Sundance used politics as ‘convenient excuse’ to leave Utah, Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson says (KSL.com)

'A sacred place': St. George officials celebrate cemetery expansion with remembrance of lost loved ones (St George News)

Why Canyons School District moved its Career and Technical Education Center into eBay’s former Draper campus (Utah Business)

A tale of two dragons: How a St. George event brings art to the streets (KUER 90.1)

Health

Surgery to change eye color is catching on, but is it safe? (Deseret News)

Pain pathway in a dish could aid search for new analgesic drugs (NPR)

What to know about peptide therapy (NBC News)

Faith

A by-the-numbers look at the 200 temples announced by President Nelson (Church News)

Your prayers will be more meaningful if you do this first (LDS Living)

Politics

Sen. John Curtis joins calls to preserve clean energy credits in upcoming tax package (Deseret News)

Scrap the Education Department: Republican senators sponsor bill to abolish embattled federal agency (Deseret News)

Caroline Gleich to join Senator Bernie Sanders at Salt Lake City stop of ‘Fighting Oligarchy’ tour (Utah Policy)

The Nation and the World

Tourist helicopter crashes in Hudson River in New York City, all 6 on board killed (ABC News)

Two American Airlines jets clip wings on ground at Reagan airport (BBC)

Sports

Why Isaac Wilson chose to come back to Utah, and where Kyle Whittingham sees him improving (Deseret News)

2 rule changes could still be headed to the NFL this year — and 1 would affect the playoffs (Deseret News)

Alex Jensen has added an assistant with extensive Utah ties (Deseret News)

Utah Jazz home game attendance ranks 15th in the NBA (Axios)

Takeaways from the Utah Hockey Club against the Nashville Predators (Deseret News)

Was Kyle Filipowski’s career night a glimpse at his future (Deseret News)

Photo of the week by Tess Crowley

Mia Love’s brother-in-law Jarid Love, left, comforts Mia Love’s son, Peyton Love, right, during a public viewing to honor Congresswoman Mia Love’s memory held at the State Capitol rotunda in Salt Lake City on Sunday, April 6, 2025.